Gov’t sets security guards’ minimum wage at Ksh.30K

This comes as the government embarks on a nationwide registration, licensing, and issuance of Guard Force Numbers (GFN) for all private security providers in the country in a bid to create a centralized database encompassing the entire private security workforce.

In a notice dated November 2, 2023, Fazul Mahamed, the Director General of the Private Security Regulatory Authority, states that the Ksh.30,000 gross pay includes a basic salary of Ksh.18,994.08, house allowance (Ksh.2,849.11) and overtime allowance (Ksh.8,156.81).

Employers will be required to make the following statutory deductions for the security guards; NSSF (Ksh.1,080), Social Health Insurance Fund (Ksh.825), PAYE (Ksh.1,229.75) and Affordable Housing Levy (Ksh.450), this leaving the net pay at Ksh.26,415.25.

According to the notice, any person, government institution or private organization who fails to pay a licensed security guard the mandated basic minimum wage shall be liable to a fine, imprisonment or both in the case of a natural person and two million shillings (Ksh.2 million) for a company.

Meanwhile, all private security providers must obtain a Guard Force Number (GFN) after undergoing training in security matters from an institution accredited by the authority.

“The Authority has commenced nationwide registration, licensing, and issuance of Guard Force Numbers (GFN) to individual private security service providers who include but are not limited to; private security guards, corporate security officers, and all persons providing private security services, either employed or otherwise engaged by Government institutions, agencies or bodies; and/or by any individual” reads the notice in part.

It further adds: “The Guard Force Number (GFN) is the only proof that a Private Security Officer has been duly registered and licensed by the Authority in accordance with the provisions of the Act.”

According to the notice, any person who operates as a private security service provider without being the holder of a valid training certificate from an institution accredited by the Authority will have committed an offence and shall be liable to a fine, imprisonment or both.

On the other hand, a company that employs a private security guard who is not licensed shall be liable to a fine of Ksh.2 million.